As famous people often do, the Kansas City Chiefs superstars have invested in a lot of things. Of course, Patrick Mahomes has his new Sports Coffee among the various sports teams in Kansas City that he also has part ownership in, like the Kansas City Royals, Sporting KC, and the KC Current. But his and Travis Kelce's foray into Formula One is a relatively new venture.
They became part owners and investors in the BWT Alpine F1 team, formerly known as Renault, in 2022. Since then, they have been actively involved in the team's operations and have been instrumental in supporting the team as they look for growth and success.
But he and Travis Kelce also own one other sports team that doesn't get talked about quite enough in the local Kansas City area, mainly because it's much more of a global sport than an American sport. The two of them are part owners and investors in a Formula One team called BWT Alpine F1, which is a French-based team in F1.
Alpine, formerly known as Renault, is one of the more famous F1 teams of all time behind the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull. They have a rich history in the sport, with numerous championship wins and a reputation for producing top-tier drivers.
As the Formula One season roars on, the excitement for the upcoming race in Monaco, Monte Carlo, is reaching its peak. This race, often hailed as the crown jewel of all races, is a true test of skill and endurance. It's a race that every racer dreams of conquering, attracting the brightest stars of the sport. However, it's also infamous for being one of the most challenging tracks in the world.
Alpine hasn't had a great season. In fact, they have somewhat fallen off from where they were a year ago. That happens more often than you would think for a middle-of-the-pack team like Alpine. It also doesn't help that one team who was in the middle of the pack with them last season is now one of the best teams in F1, McLaren. While everyone is progressing, they have not.
But this weekend has been good so far, as the team is set up to surely make Mahomes and Kelce very happy.
We know that Mahomes is a huge sports fan, as we can tell by his recent tweets about Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. As a super fan, he takes every spot he doesn't play in, just like the rest of us, as does Kelce. So, having a good weekend in the biggest race of the year so far is sure to make the two of them happy.
Their involvement in the Alpine team goes beyond just being investors. They are active supporters and are often seen at the races, cheering on the team and their drivers. Their passion and enthusiasm are infectious and have a positive impact on the team's morale and performance.
Last season in Monaco, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, the two Alpine drivers, started and finished in great positions. Ocon finished on the podium in third place, and Gasly was not far behind him in seventh place, pulling in a good chunk of points, 21 to be exact.
This was a significant achievement for the team and demonstrated their ability to perform well on challenging tracks like Monaco. It also set a high bar for this season's race, and fans are eagerly anticipating another strong showing from the team.
This season, the team has just one point, which they got in Miami a few weeks ago when Esteban Ocon finished 10th in the race. So, they have a lot of work to do, as this time last season, Alpine sat at 35 points and finished the season at 120 points.
Luckily for Alpine, they are in a good position to possibly come away with a few points, as they had their best weekend of the entire season.
Before every race, drivers participate in qualifying, where they race laps around the track to see who gets the fastest times. There are three rounds, and by the end of qualifying, they are put into order by lap time.
This was Alpine's first time in the third round of qualifying all season long, as Gasly will start on the grid Sunday in 10th place, and Ocon will be behind him in 11th. Both Gasly and Ocon are talented and experienced drivers, known for their skill and determination.
The way the point system works in F1 is as follows: drivers 1-10 get points, with first place getting 25, second getting 18, third getting 15, fourth getting 12, fifth getting 10, sixth getting 8, seventh getting 6, eighth getting 4, ninth getting 2, and 10th getting 1. Out of the top 10 drivers, if any of them get the fastest lap time during a race, they get an extra point.
This system rewards consistent performance and encourages drivers to push for the fastest lap, even if they are not in the top positions. It's a key factor in determining the overall standings and can make a significant difference in the outcome of a race or a season.
So, there is certainly some room for Alpine to get some points this weekend and have their best week of the season, which will obviously make Mahomes and Kelce happy. But, it won't be easy, as Monaco is one of the hardest tracks to drive, and one of the hardest to pass on.
You can watch the race on F1 TV Sunday morning at 8 a.m. central time or on ESPN at the same time.
